Haiti: Earthquakes - Jan 2010

Glide: EQ-2010-000009-HTI

Overview

The earthquake that hit Haiti on 12 Jan 2010 affected almost 3.5 million people, including the entire population of 2.8 million people living in the capital, Port-au- Prince. The Government of Haiti estimates that the earthquake killed 222,570 and injured another 300,572 people. Displacement peaked at close to 2.3 million people, including 302,000 children. At least 188,383 houses were badly damaged and 105,000 were destroyed by the earthquake. Sixty per cent of Government and administrative buildings, 80 per cent of schools in Port-au-Prince and 60 per cent of schools in the South and West Departments were destroyed or damaged. Total earthquake-related loss is estimated at $7.8 billion, equivalent to more than 120 per cent of Haiti’s 2009 gross domestic product. (UN General Assembly, 2 Sep 2011)

According to the Humanitarian Action Plan for Haiti 2014 an estimated 172,000 people remained internally displaced in Haiti in 306 camps at the end of 2013, almost four years after the earthquake. Basic services in camps, including WASH and health, had declined faster than the pace of return or relocation of the displaced. 16,377 displaced families living in 52 camps were considered at high risk of forced evictions. Almost 80,000 people lived in 67 camps considered to be at particularly high risk of flooding, with an additional 30 camps at additional environmental risks.

By mid-2014, an estimated 104,000 people remained internally displaced in 172 camps. Almost 70,000 IDPs were not currently targeted by any return or relocation programs. (OCHA, 31 Jul 2014) By Sep, 85,432 people remained internally displaced in 123 camps. (IOM, 8 Oct 2014)

Countries in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region are highly vulnerable to a range of natural hazards, including droughts, earthquakes, forest fires, floods, hurricanes, and volcanic eruptions. Between FY 2008 and FY 2017, USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/ OFDA) and USAID’s Office of Food for Peace (USAID/ FFP) provided humanitarian assistance in response to a diverse range of emergencies in the region.

The materials contained in this supplementary document complement those found in the existing IRP Guidance Note on Recovery – Health. The discussions and case studies contained herein portray an expanded and oftentimes fresh perspective on many of the issues found in the original guidance note on several new and emerging issues for which there exist best practices and lessons learned.

On 12 January 2010, an earthquake hit Haiti, killing over 200,000 people. Many more were injured. Moïse, 4 years old, had to have his left leg amputated. Thanks to the support of Handicap International (HI), he received a prosthesis and underwent rehabilitation. Supported by the organisation for the last eight years, Moïse is now fighting fit.

In September 2017, Haiti witnessed the passage of Hurricane Irma and Maria. Even though the impacts of the hurricanes were less than expected, they still reminded the humanitarian community of the
vulnerability of Haiti to natural disasters. The IPC report for the period of October 2017 to February 2018 revealed that about 1.32 million people are facing severe acute food insecurity. The Department
of Nord-Est, one of the departments most affected by hurricanes Irma and Maria, was classified in crisis phase.

The humanitarian context in Haiti is marked by the continued downward trend of cholera. For the period of January to August 2017, 9,531 suspected cases have been registered in the country, a decrease of 66% compared to the same period in 2016. On the other hand, the humanitarian community continues to observe the binational situation between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Between July 2015 and August 2017, 222,102 Haitians returned to Haiti (deportation and voluntary return), of which 5,488 were deported during the month of August 2017.

Mobile apps and other resources abound with convenient solutions for improving people’s lives – from ordering food to finding a date. But technological advances are also playing a big role in far more crucial ways – helping organisations deliver quality, targeted humanitarian action and developmental assistance where it is needed.

The humanitarian context in Haiti is marked by the continued increase in the number of cases of deportation of Haitians from the Dominican Republic. In July 2017, 6,776 people were officially deported, an increase of 48% from the previous month (June 2017). At the same time, 37,967 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are still lodged in 27 camps following the January 2010 earthquake. Lack of funding still hampers the conclusion of the relocations programs.

The present report is submitted pursuant to Economic and Social Council resolution 2016/28 and highlights the main findings of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti following its visits to Washington, D.C., in March 2017, during which members met with the international financial institutions and regional actors, and to Haiti, in May 2017, during which members interacted with a number of senior government and legislative officials, representatives of the United Nations system and private sector and civil society actors.

How does MSF work? It’s a deceptively simple question with at least as many different answers as we have patients all over the world. However, there are some common threads. From the most basic nutritional assistance for malnourished children to the most complex medical research, all of our work is guided by the principles set out in our charter: upholding medical ethics, maintaining impartiality, bearing witness on behalf of our patients, ensuring we remain accountable to both our donors and beneficiaries, and preserving our independence.